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  • A morning at the East Group

    Archaeological excavation is oftentimes a quiet affair, working in small groups to uncover the material culture and architectural remains that lie beneath the surface. In the Maya Biosphere Reserve of Guatemala, we situate our excavations so that we do not cut down trees and at the conclusion of the research season, all of the pits are filled back in and the forest is minimally disturbed.

    A morning at the east group © 2025, Proyecto Regional Arqueológico San Bartolo-Xultun. All rights reserved. Video by Riley Mallory. Filmed on location at San Bartolo, Petén, Guatemala, fieldwork authorized by the Dirección General de Patrimonio Cultural y Natural de Guatemala. Featuring Miguel Angel Caal Xo, Disidoro Ramos, and Marlon Eduardo Ramírez Miranda.

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    What is it like to work on this project?

    This is archaeology-life at San Bartolo-Xultun…when you love what you do and the team you do it with, any work day can be a celebration.

    PRASBX dance video #1 © 2025, Proyecto Regional Arqueológico San Bartolo-Xultun. All rights reserved. Videos by PRASBX Team, edited by H. Hurst. Filmed on location at San Bartolo, Petén, Guatemala, fieldwork authorized by the Dirección General de Patrimonio Cultural y Natural de Guatemala. Featuring the PRASBX team, music Vivir Mi Vida, Marc Anthony.

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    Opening the mural chamber

    The murals of San Bartolo are located in an earlier phase of the Las Pinturas complex. Accessed through tunnels, this sealed environment protects the murals’ delicate environmental conditions. The tunnels are opened once a year for research and conservation monitoring during the excavation season.

    Opening the mural chamber © 2025, Proyecto Regional Arqueológico San Bartolo-Xultun. All rights reserved. Video by Riley Mallory. Filmed on location at San Bartolo, Petén, Guatemala, fieldwork authorized by the Dirección General de Patrimonio Cultural y Natural de Guatemala. Featuring the PRASBX team, narrated by Heather Hurst.

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    How to make a screen

    Archaeologists use screens to sift the soil from architectural features and places of human activity look for artifacts, food remains, and other objects used in the past. In the remote region of San Bartolo-Xultun, we need to make the frames of our screens from materials available in the forest. Watch Jesús and Don Miguel expertly craft a screen as we start a new excavation.

    How to make a screen © 2025, Proyecto Regional Arqueológico San Bartolo-Xultun. All rights reserved. Video by Riley Mallory. Filmed on location at San Bartolo, Petén, Guatemala, fieldwork authorized by the Dirección General de Patrimonio Cultural y Natural de Guatemala. Featuring Jesús Gualim and Miguel Angel Caal Xo.

Our supporters

Our collaborative research and films resulting from this work were supported by awards from: The National Endowment for the Humanities (#RFW-286709-22, #HAA-280996-21), the National Geographic Society (#NGS-71947R-20), the Culture-Nature Program of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, Peter Swift & Diana McCargo, anonymous donors, and Skidmore College.

Events & Exhibitions

“7000 Fragments” at Tang Museum, Skidmore College (C. Massa/Skidmore College)

“7000 Fragments” at Tang Museum, Skidmore College (C. Massa/Skidmore College)

Interested in hosting an exhibition or lecture?

We have worked with museums throughout the U.S. and internationally to host exhibitions featuring the San Bartolo murals, ancient Maya artistic traditions, and Maya dynastic kingship. Our team of experts regularly presents at academic conferences, for schools, and diverse public groups. Please contact us if you are interested in hosting an exhibition or lecture focused on San Bartolo-Xultun archaeology, cultural heritage, or ecological research.